Air Force Plans BriefingOn Boeing's Tanker Bid

Updated March 6, 2008 12:01 am ET

The Air Force is set to debrief Boeing Co. tomorrow on its unsuccessful bid to provide the Air Force with aerial refueling tankers. Service officials defended their decision to award the $40 billion contract to Northrop Grumman Corp. and European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. Sue Payton, the top Air Force weapons buyer, told House lawmakers that the service followed all rules. Washington Rep. Norm Dicks, whose state is home to Boeing's commercial aircraft manufacturing lines, said the deal's opponents at the hearing "raised a strong doubt about what happened."